Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH reiterates importance of Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme
“The Government has comprehensively and long promoted childhood immunisation. Vaccines that contribute to safeguarding children’s health and overall public health have been incorporated into the HKCIP and other government vaccination programmes, such as the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programmes. Thanks to the trust and support of parents, schools and the healthcare professionals in the HKCIP over the years, immunisation coverage has remained extremely high, successfully keeping the incidence of related childhood infectious diseases in Hong Kong at extremely low levels. With the help of vaccines, smallpox was eradicated globally in 1980, and poliomyelitis was eliminated in Hong Kong in 2000. Measles and rubella were successful eliminated in Hong Kong in 2016 and 2021 respectively,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
“The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) under the CHP regularly reviews vaccines for various preventable diseases by assessing the epidemiology in Hong Kong, the latest recommendations on immunisation from the World Health Organization (WHO), scientific developments and applications of new vaccines, updates on vaccine components, cost-effectiveness studies and the experiences of other health authorities. The SCVPD then makes recommendations to the DH from a public health perspective. The HKCIP is tailored to local epidemiological conditions and has been proven safe and effective. Its achievements in safeguarding public health are evident. Members of the public should not blindly follow practices in certain overseas regions and develop unnecessary concerns about the HKCIP’s long-standing effectiveness,” he added.
HKCIP
——–
Based on the SCVPD’s recommendations, infants from birth to students of Primary Six should receive multiple vaccines and booster doses under the HKCIP to prevent 12 infectious diseases, namely tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, pneumococcal infection, chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella (also known as “German Measles”) and human papillomavirus infection.
Children must complete all doses according to the schedule recommended by the HKCIP to ensure adequate immune protection. Unvaccinated children lack immunity against relevant infectious diseases and are susceptible to infections such as measles and pertussis. Young children infected with these diseases may develop severe complications. Furthermore, unvaccinated children may become a conduit for transmitting infectious diseases, indirectly affecting the herd immunity of the community.
“Measles is an example of a disease that is experiencing a global resurgence due to declining childhood vaccination rates. Over the past three years, measles outbreaks have spread to multiple regions worldwide. Recently, some overseas countries have reported large numbers of measles cases. North America (including the United States and Canada) and Southeast Asia (including Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines) have experienced persistent outbreaks due to low vaccination coverage rates. Furthermore, Japan and Australia recorded an increase in measles cases last year. Most of the cases overseas involved individuals who had never received the measles vaccine or whose vaccination history was unknown, underscoring the importance of maintaining high overall vaccination rates and herd immunity,” Dr Tsui said.
Hepatitis B
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According to the WHO recommendations, receiving the hepatitis B vaccine at birth and completing the three-dose series on schedule are crucial measures for preventing infection and reducing the public health burden of hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. The major transmission routes include mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), through contact with blood and sexual contact. In chronic hepatitis B (CHB) endemic places, including Hong Kong, most people with CHB are infected through MTCT. The younger the age of acquiring the infection, the higher the risk of developing CHB. If a newborn is infected, there is up to a 90 per cent chance of developing CHB. CHB is the primary cause of liver cancer, cirrhosis and liver failure among the population in Hong Kong.
“Since 1988, the universal childhood hepatitis B immunisation programme has been implemented in Hong Kong. The current vaccination coverage rate among preschool children has reached 99 per cent. According to the Population Health Survey 2020-22, prevalence of hepatitis B among those under 35 years old has dropped below 1 per cent, reflecting Hong Kong’s successful progress towards realising the goal of a ‘hepatitis B-free generation’. The provision of hepatitis B vaccination to newborns has been instrumental in this achievement,” Dr Tsui said.
The Government has attached great importance to the public health threat posed by viral hepatitis, and announced the Hong Kong Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2025-2030 (Action Plan) at the end of last year. Through the implementation of a series of strategies and initiatives to prevent and control viral hepatitis, the Action Plan aims to further alleviate the public health burden posed by viral hepatitis. Preventing new infections is one of the four strategic axes of the Action Plan. Under this strategic axis, sustaining the existing effective MTCT prevention measures and maintaining their high coverage rates, including neonatal hepatitis B vaccination, are crucial for eliminating new hepatitis B infections.
The DH will continue to work with the SCVPD to monitor the situation of various vaccine-preventable diseases and scientific developments of new vaccines. Experts will be consulted as required to review and update the HKCIP in a timely manner.
Issued at HKT 19:30
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DH follows up on Nipah virus infection cluster in India
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH follows up on Nipah virus infection cluster in India
Preliminary information indicated that a hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, has recorded five confirmed cases of Nipah virus infection since mid-January of this year. The cluster was mainly due to nosocomial transmission and primarily involved healthcare workers, with no reported deaths or cross-border transmissions to date. Approximately 100 close contacts have been quarantined and tested in India. The CHP’s current risk assessment indicates a low risk of importation of Nipah virus into Hong Kong.
Nipah virus was first identified during outbreaks in Malaysia and Singapore from 1998 to 1999, affecting pig farm workers and individuals with close contact with pigs. It can affect various animals, including pigs, horses, goats, sheep, cats and dogs. Over the past two decades, multiple outbreaks of human Nipah virus infections were recorded in Bangladesh and India, typically occurring between December and April. Transmission primarily occurs through the consumption of raw date palm sap contaminated by fruit bats. India’s most recent outbreak occurred in Kerala in mid-2025, involving four cases.
“Nipah virus infection is an emerging zoonotic disease. Fruit bats are the natural host for the virus. The virus is mainly transmitted through direct contact with sick animals via their contaminated respiratory droplets, nasal secretions and tissues. It can also be transmitted via consuming food contaminated with urine, droppings or saliva from infected bats, usually fruits or fruit products (particularly raw date palm sap). Human-to-human transmission is also possible through close contact with contaminated secretions and excretions of infected persons. Such transmission has been reported in patients’ household and healthcare settings,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
Patients infected with Nipah virus can be asymptomatic. Early symptoms include flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, vomiting, sore throat and muscle aches. Other symptoms include dizziness, drowsiness and a decrease in consciousness. Severe cases may develop complications such as pneumonia, seizure, encephalitis, coma or even death. The case fatality rate ranges from approximately 40 per cent to 75 per cent. Among the patients who survive acute encephalitis, around 20 per cent of them may have persistent nerve problems. Currently, there is no specific treatment or medication for Nipah virus infection. The mainstay of treatment is limited to supportive care. Symptoms usually start to develop around four to 14 days after exposure, but onset may occur as late as 45 days.
“Hong Kong has the ability to detect infections of unknown causes and emerging infectious diseases at boundary control points and in hospitals. On the immigration level, the DH conducts medical assessments for sick travellers at all boundary control points and refers them to hospitals for medical examinations as needed. The CHP has a robust communicable disease surveillance and notification mechanism that enables medical professionals to report suspected cases. So far, no cases of Nipah virus infection have been recorded. Although there are no direct flights between Kolkata and Hong Kong, the CHP will step up health screenings for passengers arriving from India at the airport as a precautionary measure. Port Health staff have been arranged to carry out temperature screenings for travellers at relevant flight gates, perform medical assessments on symptomatic travellers and refer suspected cases with potential public health implications to hospitals for examination,” said Dr Tsui.
Dr Tsui reminded the public to take the following measures to reduce infection risk if travel to Nipah virus-affected areas is unavoidable: The CHP will monitor the situation and implement appropriate prevention and control measures based on risk assessments to safeguard public health and the well-being of citizens.
Issued at HKT 19:45
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Asian Financial Forum assembles global financial and business leaders to co-create new horizons amid evolving landscape (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) opened today (January 26). Featuring the theme “Co-creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape”, the forum gathered heavyweight speakers from around the world to exchange insights on the latest developments in the financial market and to explore ways to foster co-operation among economies to gain mutual benefits in times of change.
The AFF, co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), has been a flagship financial event in the region. The two-day forum is expected to attract over 3 600 participants from more than 60 countries or regions. This year’s AFF has brought together over 150 distinguished speakers, including government officials, representatives from central banks and regulatory bodies, financial and business leaders, scholars and economists, to discuss key financial and economic trends, as well as emerging opportunities in various facets of the financial sector, including asset and wealth management, fintech, trade finance, gold and precious metals trading, green finance, insurance and risk management. This year’s forum also includes significant upgrades to its content, introducing the new Global Business Summit. The summit explores how finance empowers businesses, focusing on Mainland economic opportunities and examining how Hong Kong leverages the synergy between finance and industries to support Mainland enterprises in “going global” while facilitating the “bringing in” of international businesses.
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, when addressing the opening session of the AFF this morning, highlighted Hong Kong’s prowess as an international financial hub. He said, “Hong Kong’s financial regulatory system is robust, and our financial market stands out for its deep liquidity, innovative products and world-class investor protection. We also boast a highly educated workforce, a welcoming environment for global talent and transparent financial regulations aligned with international standards.”
He stressed that these strengths are widely recognised, citing the fact that Hong Kong ranked third, globally, and first in Asia, in the most recent Global Financial Centres Index, while placing third in the 2025 World Competitiveness Yearbook, up two places over the previous year. He added that the city will focus on three fronts to further boost its status as an international financial centre. First, Hong Kong will further reinforce its existing strengths, including those in the equity market, the bond market, and the asset management and wealth management sector. Second, Hong Kong will expedite the development of new growth areas, including building an international gold trading market and commodities trading ecosystem in Hong Kong. Third, international exchanges and co-operation will remain a priority for Hong Kong, including assisting companies interested in re-domiciling to Hong Kong.
In the opening session, the Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), Mr Zou Lan said that China’s financial market has developed rapidly in recent years, with its international influence and attractiveness being continuously enhanced. As Renminbi is more widely used in cross-boundary transactions, Hong Kong has emerged as the world’s largest and most influential offshore Renminbi business hub. He said that as a next step to steadfastly support and further steadily advance the development of Hong Kong’s offshore Renminbi market, the PBOC will focus on four key directions: first, to increase the scale of Renminbi funding arrangements to provide more ample liquidity support for Hong Kong’s offshore market; second, to continue to advance financial market connectivity, enriching liquidity management and risk hedging tools for overseas investors; third, to expand the supply of offshore Renminbi sovereign bonds to enhance market liquidity; and fourth, to support the development of Hong Kong’s gold market to strengthen the offshore Renminbi market function of Hong Kong.
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, delivered welcome remarks at the keynote luncheon. He said, “In a world where economies are reconfiguring value chains and seeking more resilient, diversified partnerships, Hong Kong stands out as a reliable, trusted, resourceful and well-positioned partner, bridging the Mainland and the world.”
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, signed today a co-operation agreement with the Chairman of the Shanghai Gold Exchange, Mr Yu Wenjian, in the presence of Mr Lee; Mr Zou Lan; Member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Shanghai Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Mr Wu Wei; and the Executive Deputy Director of the Office of the Financial Commission of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, Mr Zhou Xiaoquan. The co-operation agreement marks a new milestone for deepening the co-operation between gold markets in the two places, such as establishing a high-level, collaborative governance structure for Hong Kong’s gold central clearing system, opening new avenues for physical infrastructure synergy and market interconnectivity. Separately, a panel discussion on gold exchange was held in the afternoon, analysing the market developments of the global gold industry and Hong Kong’s role.
Mr Hui also chaired a plenary session today themed “Fostering Co-operation for Shared Success”. Mr Hui and the panellists shared their thoughts on how to strengthen communication and dialogue among economies and pursue shared development amid the evolving global political and economic landscape. Speakers joining this session included the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Slovenia, Mr Klemen Boštjančič; the Minister of Treasury and Finance of Türkiye, Mr Mehmet Şimşek; the President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Ms Zou Jiayi; and the Vice-President (East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific) of Asian Development Bank, Mr Scott Morris.
Former President of the European Commission, former Prime Minister of Portugal, and Chairman of Advisory Board at Goldman Sachs International, Dr José Manuel Barroso, also delivered a keynote speech at the luncheon, sharing his views on the changes in global political and economic landscapes and their impact on international markets.
The 19th AFF will continue tomorrow (January 27). The inaugural Global Business Summit, co-organised by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the HKTDC, and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, will be held. Focusing on how finance empowers businesses, the summit will cover the potential of high-growth industries such as artificial intelligence and technology, robotics, high-growth consumer products, and biopharmaceuticals and healthcare. It will also explore how Hong Kong can support Mainland enterprises going global, and the prospects of foreign enterprises entering the Mainland market. The summit will feature heavyweight speakers. Among them, Mr Chan; the Executive Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Mr Wu Wei; and Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Hunan Province Mr Wang Junshou will deliver speeches.
Business leader, investor and philanthropist Mr Paul Polman will be the speaker for the keynote luncheon tomorrow. The forum will also feature thematic workshops on topics such as artificial intelligence, sustainable banking, and family office.
The two-day AFF encompasses diverse events, including Global Spectrum series, Dialogues for Tomorrow series, and a breakfast panel. Investment opportunities are highlighted through the AFF Deal-making and a range of exhibition zones. Moreover, to showcase Hong Kong’s various cultures and facilities, the forum offers experiential activities, sightseeing tours and dining discounts for international participants, encouraging them to make the most of their stay and experience the city’s vitality.
Asian Financial Forum opens
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), gathering heavyweight speakers from around the world to explore developments in the financial markets and ways of fostering co-operation among economies in times of change, kicked off today.
Co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Trade Development Council, the two-day forum, themed “Co-creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape”, is expected to attract over 3,600 participants from more than 60 countries or regions.
This year’s event has brought together more than 150 distinguished speakers – including government officials, representatives from central banks and regulatory bodies, financial and business leaders, scholars, and economists – to discuss key financial and economic trends, as well as emerging opportunities in areas such as asset and wealth management, fintech, trade finance, gold and precious metals trading, green finance, insurance and risk management.
This year’s forum includes the inaugural Global Business Summit, a platform which has a specific focus on how Hong Kong is able to leverage synergies between finance and industries to support Mainland enterprises in going global while helping international businesses to grow their presence in China.
Addressing the AFF’s opening session this morning, Chief Executive John Lee highlighted Hong Kong’s prowess as an international financial hub.
He said: “Hong Kong’s financial regulatory system is robust, and our financial market stands out for its deep liquidity, innovative products and world-class investor protection. We also boast a highly educated workforce, a welcoming environment for global talent and transparent financial regulations aligned with international standards.”
He outlined that these strengths are widely recognised, citing the fact that Hong Kong ranked third globally, and first in Asia, in the most recent Global Financial Centres Index, while placing third in the 2025 World Competitiveness Yearbook, up two places over the previous year.
He added that the city will focus on three fronts to further boost its status as an international financial centre.
“First, Hong Kong will further reinforce its existing strengths, including those in the equity market, the bond market, and the asset management and wealth management sector. Second, Hong Kong will expedite the development of new growth areas, including building an international gold trading market and commodities trading ecosystem in Hong Kong. Third, international exchanges and co-operation will remain a priority for Hong Kong, including assisting companies interested in re-domiciling to Hong Kong.”
At the forum’s keynote lunch, Financial Secretary Paul Chan delivered welcome remarks, stating that: “In a world where economies are reconfiguring value chains and seeking more resilient, diversified partnerships, Hong Kong stands out as a reliable, trusted, resourceful and well-positioned partner, bridging the Mainland and the world.”
He elaborated that Hong Kong’s significance will only grow, as it serves as a gateway for global investors to access China’s innovation-driven opportunities.
In the realm of finance, he highlighted that Hong Kong is the world’s premier two-way international fundraising platform, welcoming both Mainland and international companies to list in Hong Kong, and is also the world’s leading offshore renminbi (RMB) hub, offering global investors a wide range of RMB-denominated investment and risk management products.
He added that at a time of global fragmentation, Hong Kong will continue to remain open for business and welcome partners from around the world to collaborate on shaping the future of Asia and of the world at large.
Also today, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui signed a co-operation agreement with Shanghai Gold Exchange Chairman Yu Wenjian, in the presence of Mr Lee, People’s Bank of China Deputy Governor Zou Lan, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Wu Wei, and Executive Deputy Director of the Office of the Financial Commission of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee Zhou Xiaoquan.
The agreement marks a new milestone in terms of co-operation between gold markets in the two places. This includes establishing a high-level, collaborative governance structure for Hong Kong’s gold central clearing system, and opening new avenues for physical infrastructure synergy and market interconnectivity.
The Global Business Summit, co-organised by the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau, the Trade Development Council, and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises will be held tomorrow. Mr Chan, Shanghai Executive Vice Mayor Wu Wei and Hunan Vice Governor Wang Junshou will deliver speeches at it.
Childhood jab programme explained
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today emphasised that all public health policies and medical advice must be based on scientific evidence, as it rejected any suggestion of delaying or discontinuing the hepatitis B vaccination for newborns, stating that this would pose significant and irreversible public health risks to the community.
The centre was responding to media enquiries about whether adjustments to the vaccines covered by the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (HKCIP) are needed.
The centre reaffirmed that vaccines under the HKCIP are among the most effective tools for safeguarding public health and preventing and controlling infectious diseases, and that their safety and effectiveness is fully supported by scientific evidence from long-term practice.
It reminded parents to ensure their children receive timely vaccinations under the HKCIP to protect them from contracting serious vaccine-preventable diseases.
CHP Controller Dr Edwin Tsui said the Government has long promoted comprehensive childhood immunisation.
“Vaccines that contribute to safeguarding children’s health and overall public health have been incorporated into the HKCIP and other government vaccination programmes, such as the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programmes.
“Thanks to the trust and support of parents, schools and the healthcare professionals in the HKCIP over the years, immunisation coverage has remained extremely high, successfully keeping the incidence of related childhood infectious diseases in Hong Kong at extremely low levels.”
Dr Tsui highlighted that the CHP’s Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) regularly reviews vaccines for various preventable diseases by assessing Hong Kong’s epidemiology, the latest recommendations on immunisation from the World Health Organization (WHO), scientific developments and the application of new vaccines, updates on vaccine components, cost-effectiveness studies, and the experiences of other health authorities.
The SCVPD then makes recommendations to the Department of Health from a public health perspective.
“The HKCIP is tailored to local epidemiological conditions and has been proven safe and effective,” added Dr Tsui. “Its achievements in safeguarding public health are evident. Members of the public should not blindly follow practices in certain overseas regions and develop unnecessary concerns about the HKCIP’s long-standing effectiveness.”
Hepatitis B scheme to launch
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Health Bureau’s Primary Healthcare Commission announced today that the Hepatitis B Co-care Scheme, allowing eligible individuals to receive a hepatitis B risk assessment, screening and long-term management, will be launched on February 7.
Targeting those at higher risk, the scheme aims to identify people with chronic hepatitis B at an early stage, offer them long-term follow-up services and reduce their risk of developing cirrhosis, liver cancer or other serious complications.
Starting from February 7, eligible individuals can enrol in the scheme at District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses (DHCs).
Hong Kong residents born in or before 1988 with no known medical history of chronic hepatitis B, but with family members or sexual partners who have contracted chronic hepatitis B, are eligible to participate. They must first register as DHC members and agree to join eHealth.
Regarding the screening process, DHC staff will arrange for eligible participants to undergo a free hepatitis B surface antigen rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and pair them with a family doctor of their own choice.
Participants with positive RDT results will be subsidised by the Government to receive further blood tests, under a co-payment model, to confirm whether they are infected with the hepatitis B virus.
If the result of a participant’s first blood test is positive, their family doctor will arrange for a second blood test six months later to confirm the diagnosis.
Family doctors will assess and diagnose whether a participant has chronic hepatitis B based on the participant’s laboratory results and clinical conditions, with a view to providing appropriate treatment and management.
During the screening phase, participants are only required to pay a co-payment fee of $180. Moreover, the Government will subsidise up to two consultations with family doctors, resulting in a total consultation fee of $136.
Participants not diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B after screening can continue to receive hepatitis B-related health counselling and education at DHCs.
Participants who are diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B will enter the treatment phase. They will be entitled to a maximum of four subsidised follow-up consultations per year, and will pay a co-payment fee determined by the family doctor for each consultation.
The Government has recommended a co-payment fee of $150 per consultation, and will provide a subsidy of $166 to family doctors for each consultation.
The basic-tier drug list under the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) includes antiviral medicines for hepatitis B treatment. Participants prescribed those drugs will not be required to pay for medication.
In addition, family doctors can arrange appropriate laboratory testing services for participants. The list of laboratory tests and related co-payment fees are the same as those under the CDCC Pilot Scheme.
For participants who have also enrolled in the CDCC Pilot Scheme Family, doctors can offer management of chronic diseases such as prediabetes, diabetes mellitus, hypertension or hyperlipidaemia in the same consultation. Participants will only be required to pay a co-payment fee for one consultation.
Meanwhile, if participants are recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, recipients of the Old Age Living Allowance aged 75 or above, or holders of valid medical fee waiver certificates, DHCs will arrange for them to receive chronic hepatitis B screening and treatment services at one of 18 designated Hospital Authority Family Medicine Clinics. They may be granted a full or partial medical fee waiver based on their eligibility.
OFCA and TRC sign MOU to strengthen collaboration in tackling scam and spam communications (with photo)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
OFCA and TRC sign MOU to strengthen collaboration in tackling scam and spam communications (with photo)
Signed by the Director-General of Communications, Mr Chaucer Leung, and the Chairman of the TRC, Mr Chenda Thong, at a bilateral meeting, the MOU seeks to strengthen strategic collaboration, support and exchange of information between Hong Kong and Cambodia in areas including regulatory practices, public awareness education and development of technical solutions to address and mitigate issues relating to scam and spam communications (including telephone calls and Short Message Service (SMS) messages).
“The MOU represents a significant milestone for both jurisdictions to collaborate and share expertise and experiences in the fight against scam and spam communications. It facilitates the timely exchange and sharing of insights on emerging market trends and developments, enabling both regulators to effectively identify and address evolving scam and spam threats in Hong Kong and Cambodia. The MOU also demonstrates our joint commitment to continuously devise and enhance measures to tackle scam and spam communications effectively,” Mr Leung said.
To safeguard effective operation of Hong Kong’s communications system and to protect telecommunications users against frauds, OFCA has been collaborating with telecommunications service providers (TSPs) and various government departments in implementing a range of measures to tackle scam and spam communications from the perspective of telecommunications services, including requiring TSPs to promptly block phone numbers and websites suspected to be involved in fraudulent cases, blocking suspicious calls from outside Hong Kong prefixed with “+852”, implementing the SMS Sender Registration Scheme, ensuring the effective implementation of the Real-name Registration Programme for Subscriber Identification Module Cards, etc.
Issued at HKT 18:38
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Record high numbers of companies and start-ups affirm Hong Kong’s incomparable business advantages
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
According to the results of the 2025 Annual Survey of Companies in Hong Kong with Parent Companies Located outside Hong Kong and the 2025 Startup Survey announced by the Government today (January 26), the number of companies in Hong Kong with Chinese Mainland or overseas parent companies rose to 11 070 in 2025, while the number of start-ups in Hong Kong increased to 5 221, both reaching record highs again. The results demonstrate that Hong Kong’s unique attractiveness to enterprises from around the globe continues to rise, and that the city is the ideal investment destination to set up or expand businesses.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, said, “Even though geopolitics and the global economic and trade landscape are evolving, Hong Kong has been proactively demonstrating its incomparably unique advantages under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, as the best two-way springboard for overseas enterprises to tap into the vast Chinese Mainland market and for Chinese Mainland enterprises to go global. Together with the wide array of the latest initiatives to promote economic development, including the establishment of the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global, the formulation of preferential policy packages to attract high value-added industries to Hong Kong, the accelerated development of the Northern Metropolis, the establishment of the Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur, etc, Hong Kong’s advantages will continue to strengthen, thereby accelerating the injection of new impetus to our economy and providing more opportunities for both Chinese Mainland and overseas companies based in Hong Kong.
InvestHK achieves outstanding results in 2025 reflecting strong global investor confidence in Hong Kong (with photo)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
InvestHK achieves outstanding results in 2025 reflecting strong global investor confidence in Hong Kong (with photo)
The strong foreign direct investment (FDI) performance was driven by investment across diverse and high-value industries. It is estimated that the total investment thereby brought to Hong Kong’s economy has reached nearly $69.4 billion, a nearly 2 per cent increase compared to 2024; these companies are expected to create 10 748 job opportunities, covering transport, logistics and industrials, tourism and hospitality, as well as the financial services and fintech industries, with around 20 per cent in management/professional level jobs, in Hong Kong during their first year of operation, achieving more than 57 per cent of increment compared to 2024.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, said, “I am happy to see the outstanding results achieved by InvestHK last year. Together with record numbers of Mainland and overseas companies and start-ups in the city, there are a clear reflection of the strong global investor confidence in Hong Kong. Our city’s unique advantages, such as enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, proactively integrating into the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and capitalising on national strategies such as the high-quality co-operation under the Belt and Road Initiative, continue to make it an important hub for businesses and investments, attracting enterprises across the globe to select the city as their base to expand regional businesses in Asia. This year marks the commencement of the 15th Five-Year Plan; the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to create an even more conducive business environment, further promote Hong Kong’s national opportunities and international advantages to attract FDI and companies to Hong Kong, demonstrating the city’s roles as a ‘super-connector’ and a ‘super value-adder’.”
The top five locations of origin among the companies assisted span markets in the United States, Europe and Asia.